For the diagnosis of bacterial disease, it is important that samples reach the Bacteriology Laboratory as soon as possible after collection.
To prevent bacterial multiplication, it is recommended to maintain the sample at refrigerator temperature until samples reach the lab. However, if anaerobes are suspected, samples should be maintained at room temperature.
Procedures for processing clinical samples for bacteriology analyses depend widely upon the disease or microorganisms suspected to induce clinical signs of disease. Therefore, an adequate clinical history with suggestions by the attending veterinarian as to the disease or diseases suspected is extremely important for the clinical Bacteriology, Mycology, and Parasitology Laboratory.
Samples should be taken from living or recently dead animals, from the affected site(s) as early as possible following the onset of clinical signs. In some cases, it is necessary to collect these samples from the edge of the lesions and include some macroscopically normal tissue.
- Collect samples aseptically and before administration of any form of treatment.
- Material sent on swabs is liable to desiccation. Moisten swabs with sterile saline or water.
When requesting a fecal culture and parasitology, please submit approximately 10 g of feces.
The differences between a Routine Flotation and a Modified Wisconsin are as follows:
- Routine Flotation is a semi quantitative test and is reported as 1+, 3+, etc.
- Modified Wisconsin requires 5 g of feces that is weighed out and each different type of parasite egg, oocyst, or cyst is counted for a more exact measurement of parasite load.
Sample collection / shipping.
- Tissues: placed in a sealed leak proof rigid container. Plastic bags are not recommended. One tissue per container. Can ship on ice.
- Swabs: are submitted quite often. Please choose a swab that has a non-nutritional transport medium (gel media) to ensure they do not become desiccated.
- Milk: collected aseptically in a sterile screw-capped tube or bottle.
- Urine: collected aseptically by midstream, catheter or preferably by cystocentesis.
- Feces: should be obtained directly from the rectum. Ground droppings should be avoided because of environmental contamination.
- Blood: collected aseptically in volume of 1 ml or 5 ml for small animals, and 5 ml to 10 ml for large animals. Three to four samples are necessary.
- Skin scrapings for mycology examination should be taken at the edge of the active lesion and submitted in a cotton plugged test tube or envelope.
- Samples suspected of containing significant anaerobes should be placed in special commercial transport system for organs or screw cap tubes containing oxygen-free gas for swabs.